On the other hand, the poem 'Remember,' has a calming and relaxing tone, bringing peace to the readers mind. The tone could suggest that the relationship wasn't as good, but it could also suggest that anger can worsen the situation and not bring the poet's message across. The relationship with her lover was different to 'Do not go gentle' and so, it accepts death by stating 'you'd tell me of our future' suggesting she had no say about how her future dominated, she argues that after death there'll be no one to tell her what to do; so he should accept her death but 'remember' her too even though they faced problem, their relationship was close 'day by day'.
Alternatively, the use of colour and imagery, in each poem are quite similar too. In the poem, 'Do not go gentle,' it states 'dying of the light,' possibly suggesting someone coming closer to death; and closing their eyes to show 'darkness.' 'Blind eyes' could suggest that people have a lot of power over the way they die and 'blaze like meteors' showing a powerful impact, or even to indicate heaven and 'be gay' to show happiness. This sentence, is a simile and it has the effect of creating an image in the reader's mind. Also, the quote 'green bay' could indicate green portrayed as the colour of death because green symbolize nature, and death is a natural process. These words offer a visual imagery of death. But on the other hand, it could also symbolise the colour of life and youth, allowing one to be happy. This poem, focuses a lot on weather too, as 'green' reflects nature, allowing nature to circle through life.
On the other hand, in the poem 'Remember' the poet states 'for the darkness and corruption leave' suggesting there was blindness in right and wrong; choosing the right path. Also, the dark use of colours could imply death, and when 'darkness leaves' it could imply as life; with brightness in one's life again.
Also, other differences between 'Do not go gentle' and 'Remember' would be the vivid description, given from different peoples point of view. Dylan uses to describe death in different situations by different people's interpretations. At the beginning of stanzas two, three, four, and five Thomas identifies different types of men and describes how each one relates to death. The “wise men,” know that the end is coming and they understand that knowledge and intelligence isn't the core of their lives. Men live their lives and then they die. They still do not “go gentle” because their words “had forked no lightning.” They feel as though they have had no impact on their world, so they are desperate to live longer that they might have one more chance to make a lasting impression. “Good men” in the third stanza find that they cannot leave this life peacefully either. Without having to prove themselves through heroic deeds, they long for one last chance. The “wild men” who “caught the sun” lived joyful lives and “sang the sun in flight,”. The “wild men,” however, realised too late that their life was limited and they wasted them on their own pleasure. Thomas, uses the technique of pun, in the fifth stanza “grave men.” In terms of “grave” it is usually used to describe men, whom appear both serious and solemn in their acceptance of going to the grave; to step ever closer to entering their final resting place. This play on words highlights the poem to have alternative meanings in every word. Thomas, uses different types of lives to prove that his thoughts apply to all men. All four men lived unlike lives but at the end they came to one whole conclusion; don't base your life on youth, live a wholesome life at your old age.
However, "remember' contrasted this idea by basing the poem on life, not really focusing on someone's say, but rather a command; the persona wanting her lover to forget and smile, wanting him to be happy not to 'rage.' She wants him to look on, but remember the good times 'by remembering her,' and not fill his life with 'darkness' and despair. Rossetti, is convincing her lover to stay strong when she had gained her sense of freedom; whilst on the other "do not go gentle' doesn't want to give in death easily but asks one to fight against it.
Then again, both the poems, have many similar techniques. For instance the use of personal pronouns; the speaker of the poem ('I') speaks directly to the listener ('you') in an urgent voice, creating an instant relationship between these two characters as well as getting the clear message across in both the poems. Not only that, throughout the poem 'Remember' there's the repetition of the word 'remember' it runs constantly, throughout the so the reader knows she wants to be remembered each time and not completely forgotten. However, the use of the word 'remember' seems to decrease through the poem, because he voice and memory of the speaker is fading away from life. Further on, repetition such as ‘gone away / Gone far away’, strengthens the distance that is growing between the speaker and her lover and emphasises the boundary that exists between life and death. Also, the poem 'Do not go gentle' uses variety of repetition. For instance 'rage rage against the dying of the light/Do not go gentle into that goodnight.' This could suggest the cycle of life with its point being reinforced each time; just like 'Remember.'
In addition, both poems convey the message to the reader by using their body parts. For example, 'blind eyes' could mean that all the eyes see are death; life around them seems to be standstill, also, it could mean as the 'close of day' approaches light cannot be seen in poets father's life again and the poet advises one the fight through the darkness even with 'tears so fierce' don't give in to death. The poet in the poem 'Remember,' uses 'no more hold me by the hand,' showing the closeness of their relationship; and how hands convey the last touch ever given to someone.
Both poems, differ from one-another, in the use of structure. 'Do not go gentle,' is a typical villanelle, with six stanzas. There's three lines in first five stanzas and four in the last stanza, each line focuses the readers attention on what is essential in the poem. The rhyme scheme consists of an A-B-A-B format in the first five stanzas then an A-B-A-A at the last stanza. The last line of each stanza, has a repetition form of A-B-A-B-A-A. A is 'rage, rage against the darkness of the light', and B is 'Do not go gentle into that goodnight.' Whereas, 'Remember,' is a sonnet, with the poem established with the rhyme scheme of A-B-B-A-A-B-A, it is also set up in a way to convey a demanding tone.
However, even though the poems differ in the sense of structure, the similarities are that, each line in every stanza, consists of ten syllables throughout. Both poems, consist of the technique; iambic pentameter, it's set in such a way, that the effect it has on the reader is aiding to the softness of the rhythm, with the message trying to be conveyed. Also, both poems have similar tones too. Once the poem is read, it sounds slow, sad and peaceful, allowing the reader to reflect and feel the same way as the writer. Not only that, but the way it is structured rhyme well; in other words they both have couplets at the end of each sentence with each sentence in both poems being short and sharp.
In conclusion, the two dictatorial poems 'Remember', by Christina Rossetti and 'Do not go gentle into that good night' by Dylan Thomas express the theme of death. Both poems, show many differences however, they too, show connections of similarities. The two poems teach the world that whatever reason there may be, people go off to the 'silent land.' But the message revealed in the poems is that one must remain strong and have the courage to face this situation.
The poem 'Do not go gentle,' encourages the reader to think that death is something that should be fought then mutely accepted. On the other hand, the poem 'Remember,' accepts death, calming afterlife and reducing the pain, but the main message in these two poems is to live your life to the fullest; don't wait for death to breath down your neck to start living, start today.
Areeba- 9B